The anticipation around this year's All-Star Game, set to take place on July 16 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, is reaching a fever pitch as Aaron Judge and Bryce Harper have been elected to start, leading their respective leagues in votes. Aaron Judge, perhaps the most electrifying player in baseball today, led the major leagues with an astounding 3,425,309 votes in the first round of balloting.
This marks Judge's sixth start in seven All-Star Games, underscoring his status as a perennial fan favorite and a dominant force in the American League. The New York Yankees star, however, was forced to miss last year's event due to a sprained right big toe, a setback that did little to diminish his popularity, as evidenced by his leading the first phase of fan voting in 2022. Notably, Judge is now the 11th player to lead the majors in votes on multiple occasions since fan balloting resumed in 1970, solidifying his place among the game's elite.
On the National League side, Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies proved to be the top draw, amassing 3,277,920 votes to finish second overall in the majors. This will be Harper's eighth All-Star Game appearance, with seven of those as a starter. Harper's continued prominence in fan voting speaks volumes about his impact on the game and his relentless drive on the field.
Fan Voting and the All-Star Selection Process
The process for determining the starting spots in the All-Star Game is a testament to the fans' passion and engagement. The first phase of online voting commenced on June 5 and concluded last Thursday, allowing individuals to vote once every 24 hours. The results of this phase determined the top vote-getters in each league, who were then awarded starting spots. The remaining starters will be announced on June 30, while pitchers and reserves will be revealed on July 7.
In an interesting twist, the second phase of voting runs from noon EDT on Sunday to noon EDT on June 30, with all votes from the first phase reset, ensuring a fresh round of fan engagement. Notably, both the Baltimore Orioles and the Philadelphia Phillies have six players advancing to the second phase, reflecting the depth of talent on these rosters.
Close Contests and Shifts in the Voting
There have been some intriguing shifts in the voting landscape. Kyle Schwarber, despite facing stiff competition, overtook Marcell Ozuna for the second spot among designated hitters in the National League. Similarly, Ryan O'Hearn moved ahead of Giancarlo Stanton for second place among designated hitters in the American League.
The battle for starting positions is as intense as ever. In the American League, the catcher's spot sees Salvador Perez pitted against Adley Rutschman. At first base, it's a contest between Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Ryan Mountcastle. Second base has Jose Altuve competing with Marcus Semien, while at third base, fans will need to choose between Jose Ramirez and Jordan Westburg. The shortstop position is a tight race between Gunnar Henderson and Bobby Witt Jr., and the outfield finalists include Steven Kwan, Anthony Santander, Juan Soto, and Kyle Tucker. For the designated hitter role, it's down to Yordan Alvarez and Ryan O'Hearn.
In the National League, the competition is equally fierce. William Contreras and J.T. Realmuto are vying for the catcher's slot. The second base finalists are Luis Arraez and Ketel Marte. Third base sees Alec Bohm going head-to-head with Manny Machado, while the shortstop finalist includes heavyweights Mookie Betts and Trea Turner. The outfield finalists feature Nick Castellanos, Teoscar Hernandez, Brandon Marsh, Jurickson Profar, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Christian Yelich. The designated hitter role in the National League is a battle between Shohei Ohtani and Kyle Schwarber.
Looking Forward
With the fan votes pouring in and the tension mounting, this year's All-Star Game promises to be an exciting showcase of the best talent in Major League Baseball. As the second phase of voting progresses and the remaining positions are filled, fans can look forward to seeing their favorite players take the field in Arlington, offering a thrilling mid-season spectacle.